Google Cloud Platform Console

Google Compute Engine offers the browser-based Google Cloud Platform Console tool that lets
you manage your Google Compute Engine resources through a graphical interface. Use
the GCP Console to manage your resources if you prefer using a
user-interface through the browser.

Alternatively, you can also use the Google Cloud Platform command-line tool,
gcloud, or the RESTful API.

This document briefly describes how to access the console and describes
some unique features that the console offers.

Generate REST requests

When you create a resource using the GCP Console,
Google Compute Engine also shows the REST request that is used to create this
resource. This is a good way to view a sample REST request or to build your own
REST request using a graphical interface. To see an example of this:

Click Equivalent REST at the bottom of the page to view the REST details
for creating your new instance.

Generate commands for the command-line tool

When you create a resource using the GCP Console, the console
generates the equivalent command for the gcloud tool that would perform the same
action. You can copy and paste the command into a terminal and use the command to
create the same resource with the gcloud command-line tool instead of the
console.

For example, you can fill out the properties to create a new virtual machine
instance on the Create a new instance
page, and then click Equivalent command-line at the bottom of the
page to get the command for creating the instance.

This is an easy way to create complex commands if you want to use
the gcloud tool but aren't sure which command and flags would make the request
you want. This can also be useful if you are unfamiliar with the gcloud
tool and want some example commands to start with.